3D TV, Not Ready for Prime Time

Yes, 3D is a new and exciting technology. Unfortunately, it just isn't worth paying extra for.

Our editors review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. Our picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

If you’ve been shopping for a new TV is the last two years, you’ve probably heard a lot of hype about 3D. When it first hit the market, manufacturers had dollar signs in their eyes, hoping people would flock to the new technology. But a combination of factors, including a sagging economy, customer confusion, and some 3D theatrical flops (Clash of the Titans, anyone?) has slowed the adoption rate. Nevertheless, 3D has infiltrated the field of TVs, spanning a wide range of prices and screen sizes.

As with most new technologies, customers are awash in baffling terminology and misinformation. Here’s a simple guide to walk you through the basics.

What is 3D?

Most people have two functioning eyes in their head. Because they’re set slightly apart from one another, each eye receives a different image. Your brain interprets the difference between them to determine how far an object is. Closer objects have more difference between the two images, while more distant objects have less. Your eye doctor checks this all the time. Move a finger too close to your eyes and you see two fingers. Scientists call this process stereopsis.

In order for these 3D TVs to work, your brain has to be tricked into thinking there’s depth in an image that, in reality, is only two-dimensional. It’s a simple process, really. The objects on the screen are doubled and set slight apart from one another. Objects that are meant to appear closer are given a larger difference between the two images (just like that finger in your face), while background objects are set closer together. Without the 3D glasses you would see both sets of images, but the glasses filter them, sending one image to the left eye and the other to the right eye.

Because 3D movies rely on your ability to interpret these differences, if you have any sort of impairment that prevents depth perception – known as “stereo-blindness” – you won’t be able to see the 3D effect on your TV either. Experts estimate about 10% of the population falls under this category. If you’re unsure about yourself, just pop on down to the local electronics store for a demo.

Active versus Passive

The 3D TV market is currently split into two basic technologies: active shutter and passive. Our testing, to date, has shown that active shutter is more effective at creating an immersive 3D experience. It comes at a cost, however. Each pair of 3D glasses retails from $50 - $150. That’s a major investment for a family of four. Why so expensive? Active shutter glasses are electronically synced with the TV screen, alternating on and off, left and right, 60 times per second. When it works, it’s a great trick. When it doesn’t, it’s a headache-inducing mess. Some people may be more sensitive to the constant flicker than others, and everyone’s eyes grow weary with enough time.

Passive 3D is closer to what cinemas are currently using. The glasses are so cheap as to be almost disposable and work on a simpler principle. The lenses are polarized so a slightly different image can pass through to each eye. In order to maintain the effect, your head has to be kept perfectly level the whole time. Sorry, but no lying down on the couch for you.

Our testing show has shown passive 3D to create a less immersive experience, though the glasses are certainly more comfortable for a two or three hour stretch. That’s a trade-off many are willing to make.

Why 3D isn’t great… yet

The biggest obstacle to 3D is the glasses, to be sure. On a performance level, 3D glasses are tinted, so you’re essentially wearing sunglasses. They cut the screen brightness and skew colors. On a practical level, they’re expensive and uncomfortable. If, like most people, you’re accustomed to multi-tasking while you watch TV – checking email, folding the laundry, etc. – that’s just not possible.

There’s a lot of buzz right now about glasses-free 3D. Nintendo launched the first major strike with the 3DS portable gaming system. Unfortunately, both glasses and glasses-free 3D result in the same problem. Your brain doesn’t like to be tricked. Watch a 3D image too long and your eyes begin to strain, causing headaches and blurred vision. Parents and watchdogs noted this almost immediately and sales of the Nintendo 3DS suffered. We’ve heard rumors of glasses-free TV, but no significant product announcements yet.

Missing Piece of the Puzzle

If you’re dead-set on buying a 3D TV, there are plenty of choices. Nearly all the major manufacturers offer 3D as a feature on their mid-tier and top-of-the-line TVs. That still doesn’t solve the problem of what to watch, though. There simply isn’t that much 3D content yet. Because it’s so much easier to manipulate the parallax in a computer-generated world, we’re currently awash in mediocre animated children’s movies. Making a convincing 3D image with real actors on an actual set requires a skill set that Hollywood directors are just starting to learn.

Our editors review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. Our picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

Follow Us

Get Our Newsletter

Real advice from real experts. Sign up for our newsletter

Thanks for signing up!

Share:

What's Your Take?

All Comments

Our editors review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. Our picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.

Our editors review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. Our picks and opinions are independent from any business incentives.